The West of England is an area of South West England around the River Avon. The area has a local government combined authority that consists of the unitary authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. The combined authority is led by the Mayor of the West of England Dan Norris.[1][2][3] The city of Bristol is the region's largest population centre. Before the region, from 1974 until 1996, the area was under the County of Avon with North Somerset.
West of England | |
|---|---|
Combined authority region | |
 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | South West England |
| Counties | Bristol Gloucestershire Somerset |
| Administrative HQ | Bristol (3 Rivergate, Temple Quay) |
| Boroughs | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Combined authority Local enterprise partnership |
| • Body | West of England Combined Authority |
| • Mayor | Dan Norris (Labour) |
| Time zone | UTC 0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC 1 (British Summer Time) |
| Website | www |
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The term has been used in the Bristol and Bath area since at least the 18th century. The Royal Bath and West of England Society was named the Bath and West of England Society in 1790.[4] The Royal West of England Academy received its present title in 1913.[5] More recently the term has been used by organisations such as the West of England Partnership,[6] Connexions West of England,[7] and the West of England Sport Trust,[8] as a synonym for the former Avon area, which existed as a local government unit between 1974 and 1996. Some aspects of transport planning and policy are coordinated using the Travelwest logo.[9]
The West of England Combined Authority is a combined authority for the area, originally intended to comprise the local authorities of the former county of Avon, including Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset,[1][10][11] but North Somerset declined to participate.[12] The combined authority is led by a Mayor, following the first election in May 2017. The government's stated vision is to create a "Western Powerhouse" analogous to the government's Northern Powerhouse concept. It is said that the proposal could bring nearly £1 billion of investment to the region.[1][10]
The term is also used by the University of the West of England, the Royal West of England Academy,[13] and by voluntary groups and clubs such as the West of England Bridge Club,[14] all of which are based in or near Bristol.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "West of England £1bn devolution deal announced in Budget". BBC News. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ Gavin Thompson (16 March 2016). "Metro mayor and £1 billion investment for Greater Bristol announced in Budget 2016". Bristol Post. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "West of England Mayoral election results: Dan Norris named as metro mayor". ITV News. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "About us". Royal Bath and West of England Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Royal West of England Academy". Bridgeman Images. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ West of England Partnership. Accessed 6 March 2012
- ^ Connexions West of England
- ^ "The West of England Sport Trust (Wesport) - CSP for the West of England". Wesport.
- ^ Travelwest. Accessed 24 May 2021
- ^ a b Gavin Thompson (16 March 2016). "Metro mayor and £1 billion investment for Greater Bristol announced in Budget 2016". Bristol Post. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "The return of Avon: Osborne announces devolution plans". ITV news. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ Crawley, James (8 June 2016). "West of England devolution: North Somerset rejects metro mayor plan". Bath Chronicle.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Royal West of England Academy". RWA Bristol.
- ^ "West of England Bridge Club".